24 December 2020 | 08:29am
StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened higher on Thursday amid increasing signs that the UK and EU were poised to sign a post-Brexit trade deal.
At 08.23, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 21.23 points, or 0.3%, at 6,516.98.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to hold a press conference later Thursday morning, at which he was hoped to confirm that an historic Christmas Eve agreement had been reached.
In corporate news, mining company BHP shed 0.3% to £19.604 after it said production had restarted at its Samarco iron ore venture with Vale in Brazil, around five years after it was shuttered due to a catastrophic dam collapse.
( SEEIT or the Company ) Acquisition of Solar and Storage Projects in the United States SEEIT is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire a series of portfolios of commercial and industrial ( C&I ) on-site solar and energy storage projects in the United States, together with a 50% interest in the platform that has created them, Onyx Renewable Partners ( Onyx ) from funds managed by Blackstone ( Blackstone ) for a consideration of approximately $150 million. Blackstone will remain a 50% partner in Onyx. SEEIT will acquire a 100% interest in four portfolios totalling over 175 MW, which provide renewable energy generated on-site directly to the end-user, and a 50% interest in Onyx s follow-on pipeline, which is projected to exceed 500MW over the next 5 years. The four portfolios comprise over 200 operational, construction and development stage rooftop, carport and private wire ground mounted solar PV projects, located in 18 US states. Clients include